Chantalle’s research at The Centre for the Study of Global Human Movement, Faculty of Law, University of Cambridge, focuses on environmental security and resource management in vulnerable communities and in the developing world. Her particular focus is on indigenous practices and principles as an approach to adapt the concept of ‘global commons’, a term used to describe governance of the earth’s shared resources, to a community or regional context. She aims to show how community management of the commons can result in improved environmental protection, fairer representation, and more democratic outcomes. She brings an understanding of indigenous governance principles to international law and her aim is to contribute to equitable and sustainable management of resources within and between developed and developing countries. Her research also aims to decolonize international law, by elevating non-European legal principles and highlighting the utility of embracing traditional and indigenous forms of governance and cooperation.
Chantalle’s career is dedicated to empowering marginalised communities who disproportionately face insidious effects from global environmental change, including resource insecurity, hunger, poverty, and gender-based violence. She is an Associate Fellow at the Centre for International Sustainable Development Law (CISDL), a Canadian legal charity and she serves as Secretariat Coordinator of the Climate Law and Governance Initiative (CLGI) at the University of Cambridge which includes the climate law community (think tanks, universities, IGOs, NGOs and law firms). She has contributed reports on sustainable development law, climate change and pandemic recovery, making substantial contributions to the development of a governance regime for climate and environmental security.
Chantalle was born in Loubiere in the Commonwealth of Dominica, doing her early training in Antigua and Barbuda, with Nova Scotia later becoming her home. She holds a BSc in Biology and Chemistry – Acadia University, an LLB – University of Essex and an LLM – University of Cambridge. While she was at Acadia University, she undertook research to identify environmental stressors in the white-tailed deer populations of Nova Scotia and developed a biodiversity strategy for the province. She has also worked with children with physical and/or mental disabilities to support them in gaining communication and social skills. During her LLB at the University of Essex, she served on the board of the Essex Law Clinic, where she provided free legal advice and was responsible for the creation of ‘pop-up clinics’ which extended the clinic’s activities to underprivileged communities. She is co-author of ‘The International Law and Policy Implications of Climate Change Litigation: Sustainable Developments in International Investment Law and Policy Related to Renewable Energy, Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation’ published in Climate Change Litigation: Liability and Damage from a Comparative Perspective and multiple reports including ‘Sustainable COVID-19 Economic Recovery: The Role of International Cooperation, Trade and Investment Policies in the Commonwealth’.
